Revisiting convergence (Introduction)

by David Turell , Thursday, June 18, 2015, 19:50 (3445 days ago) @ dhw


> dhw: Why on earth convergence should be regarded as evidence of “pattern planning” I don't know. If all forms of life developed from earlier forms, it stands to reason that regardless of divergence, there will be similar solutions to similar problems.-It stands to reason that it makes it much easier to plan an evolution of life process if some standard solutions and plans are in place in the beginning.-> dhw: If you insist on interpreting every variation (divergence) and every similarity (convergence) as evidence of God's planning, I shall have to insist on asking you why each example - in this case the venom of the centipede and the spider - was essential to the production of humans.-I don't know that it is. It is a point you keep insisting on, as though every variation is part of a necessary plan for human development. It obviously isn't. -> dhw: So just add it to the weaverbird's nest, the monarch's lifestyle, the plover's navigation, the whale's blowhole, the spider's silk...This could go on forever. I have a proposal: if you stop harping on about planning, I'll stop asking you how the plans fit in with anthropocentrism.-Again, I don't know that that they need to fit in with the final goal. Maybe God is just being inventive on the side of the major stream to see or show just how clever He can be in conjuring up Natures Wonders-> dhw: But please don't stop telling us about Nature's Wonders. These are a revelation in themselves.-Thank you, and yes they are. They make my point that these complex life plans require design.
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> dhw: Many thanks for keeping the website going during my absence. I'm pleased to report that the productions of the two plays were excellent. A tribute to human planning and what can be achieved by the process of convergence!-Glad to have you back. Now if only the folks at the Globe will take notice.